Periscope installation



I Sept 1936- L. Y. SPEAR 2,054,639

PERISCOPE INSTALLATION Filed July 21, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 1 Fig. 1.

32/ m VM/ Sept. 15,1936. SPEAR 2,054,639 1 PERI SCOPE INSTALLATION Filed July 21, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet s [/21/6-22 in f; j law/ream? Y 5 0662? J" m, m

Patented Sept. 15, 193 5 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERISCOPE INSTALLATION Application July 21, 1934, Serial No. 736,291

8 Claims.

This invention relates to submarine boats, and has to do with periscope installations.

It is the usual practice in submarine boat construction to provide, near the middle of the length 5 of the boat, a central operating compartment or control room containing the diving station and many other installations which it is necessary to use in trimming the boat for diving, and in diving and submerged navigation. a1 conning tower is located over this central operating or control compartment and is surrounded by a fairwater to reduce the submergedresistance. On top of the tower and fairwater, it is customary to fit a navigating bridge for surface operation. The periscopes, which constitute a vital element in submerged navigation, are always fitted in this part of the boat. These instruments work through stufiing boxes and are provided with hoisting and lowering gear to permit of regulating the height of the objective lens above the ship structure. Ordinarily, the eyepiece of one periscope is located in the conning tower, and that of the other periscope in the control room below. The object of locating one periscope in the conning tower is to secure the maximum possible height for the periscope objective lens above the structure of the ship when the periscope is fully extended. In some cases, however, the eye-pieces of both periscopes have been located in the control room.

It is known to provide an operating platform which moves up and down with the periscope, and such a platform has been fitted to conning tower periscopes in some submarines. When a platform is fitted in this manner to a conning tower periscope, it is necessary to provide a trunk below the conning tower into which the operating platform and the operator descend when it is desired to use the periscope at low elevation, which is usually necessary with conning tower periscopes except at low speeds, due to the vibration of the periscope caused by passage of the instrument through the water at high speeds. Such an arrangement forces the adoption of the conning tower, instead of the control room, as the normal operating station for the commanding oflicer. This is objectionable in that it involves the duplication of various instruments and apparatus in the control room and conning tower. The trunk below the conning tower is objectionable, since it must be disposed within the control room or compartment, which is already crowded, where it takes up valuable space and obstructs observation of the several stations in this compartment. In addition, when operating with the periscope at The eonventionlow elevation, direct communication is cut off from the central operating or control compartment and observation, by the commanding ofiicer, of the instruments either in the conning tower, or in the central control compartment, is impossible.

It is an object of my invention to provide a periscope installation of comparatively simple construction and operation in which the operating ofiicer has direct communication at all times with the control compartment and, when operating the periscope at low elevation, can observe directly the stations and instruments in said compartment. A further object is to provide a periscope installation of the character stated which permits of the periscope being projected to at least as great a height as in the present type of conning tower periscope above referred to. Another object is to provide a periscope installation which does not objectionably obstruct the interior of the control compartment or interfere with observation of the various stations and instruments therein. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the mid-ship portion of a submarine boat, taken fore and aft, embodying the periscope installation of my invention;

Figures 2 and 2A, taken together, constitute a central vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through a periscope installation embodying my invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail underneath view, on an enlarged scale, of the cover for the lower end of the periscope trunk;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 2A;

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on line BB of Figure ZA showing the cable winding drum and associated parts;

I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as applied to a submarine boat having no conning tower proper, the construction of this boat being, in general, quite similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,793,796, issued February 24, 1931, to Hugo E. Grieshaber, for Bridge support for submarines. The boat B comprises a hull l, the interior of which is divided into various compartments and tanks in a known manner. The hull I is watertight and pressure resistant and is frequently referred to as the hull or, in naval parlance, as the strong hull. Either of these terms is commonly accepted in the art as referring to the watertight and pressure resistant hull exclusive of the superstructure, bridge, and other appurtenances. A control compartment 2 is provided at the mid-ship portion of the hull and contains the various apparatus for use in navigating the boat, particularly submerged, including diving station 3, master gyrocompass 4, etc. An access trunk 5 is mounted on the top 6 of pressure hull i and serves to support, in part, a navigating bridge l for operation, this trunk giving access to the bridge from the interior of compartment A ladder 8 within compartment 2 provides access from the latter to trunk 5. Trunk 5 is, in general, of known construction, being provided at its lower end with a watertight and pressure-resistant closure or cover 9.

A periscope I 9 is slidably mounted through top 53 of pressure hull i and through an offset ll of trunk 5. The eyepiece of this periscope is at all times within compartment 2, in the use of the periscope, this periscope being used at relatively low elevation only. The periscope it may be raised and lowered in any suitable or known manner, and, when in full lowered position has its lower portion stored in a suitable housing within hull i. The installation of periscope IE] is of known type and need not be illustrated nor described in detail.

A watertight and pressure-resistant trimk E3, of substantially cylindrical shape, extends through and above top 6 of hull i and, in part, supports the navigating bridge i. This trunk opens directly, at its lower end, into compartment 2 at the top thereof. A suitable cover i l (Figure 2) is provided within trunk E3 and has a gasket l5 .mounted in its under face for seating upon upwardly projecting flange ii for effecting a watertight and pressure-resistant closure therewith when the cover is in its full lowered position.

A periscope I8 is slida-bly mounted through cover l4 centrally thereof, and through the top of trunk l3 and the deck of navigating bridge I, this periscope operating through suitable stuffing boxes l9 and 28 carried by cover it and the top of trunk l3, respectively, for providing watertight closures about the periscope while permitting upward and downward movement thereof. A yoke 2| is secured about periscope it! below cover M and at the upper face of a collar 22 extending about the periscope a short distance above eyepiece 23 thereof. The yoke 2i contacts arcuate stops 24 projecting from the under face of cover 14, in the upward movement of the periscope, for moving the cover upward with the periscope after the latter has been raised to a predetermined extent. Suitable handles 25 are pivotally secured to the lower end of periscope is for turning the latter in the use thereof, these handles being positionable, when not in use, in substantial parallelism with the periscope and in contact therewith, as indicated in Figure 2.

A housing trunk 2? is disposed within hull l and extends from the bottom 28 thereof upward through intermediate deck 29, opening into compartment 2 at the bottom thereof, this trunk 21 being disposed coaxial with trunk l3 and periscope I8. An operating platform 33 is rigidly secured to and suspended from cover it by stanchions 3!. This platform comprises a cen tral collar 32 disposed coaxial with periscope l8 and of a size to accommodate the latter when the handles 25 are turned into inoperative position. stanchions 33 are secured at their upper ends to collar 32 and are slidable through guide brackets 3 suitably secured to the inner face of trunk 27 adjacent the upper end thereof. The lower ends of stanchions 33 are secured to a guide ring 35 fitting the interior of trunk 27 and slidable therein. The brackets 34 and stanchions 33 are spaced apart to accommodate periscope it, the lower por tion of which, when in its fully retracted position, is housed within trunk 27, as indicated in Figure 2A.

A drum 36 is rotatably mounted within hull I adjacent the lower end of trunk 2i and to one side thereof. Two cables 3'! are secured at one end to the drum 36 and are windable onto and off of the end portions of the latter. A third cable 38 is secured at one end to the drum and is windable onto and off of the central portion thereof in opposite relation to the cables 31. Each of the cables 31 is led through trunk 21 and about a sheave 39 loosely mounted on a shaft 40 suitably supported in the lower portion of trunk 2?. Cables 31 each extend upward within trunk 27 and over and under two sheaves 42 supported by a bracket 2a suitably secured to deck 29 adjacent the upper end of trunk 21. The cables 31! extend upward from sheaves 12 through stuffing boxes 43 in flange Ila, at the lower end of trunk i3, and thence upward within the trunk and over pairs of sheaves 44 supported by brackets 45 secured to the top of trunk I3, these cables extending downward from the inner sheaves 44 adjacent and parallel to periscope l8 and through stuifi'rng boxes 46 in cover 14, the other ends of cables 3'! being anchored in yoke 2i in a known manner. Stufiing boxes 33 and 4-6 are of known construction and are of a character such that the cables pass readily therethrough in the normal adjustment of the stufling boxes, but can be tightened up so as to form watertight and pressure-resistant closures about the cables when necessary. Cable 38 is led into trunk 21, about a sheave 4? loosely mounted on shaft 40, and thence upward to the lower end of periscope l8 to which the upper end of this cable is suitably anchored.

When the drum 35 is rotated in one direction, cables 31 are wound thereon for raising the yoke 2| and, with it, the periscope I 8 and cover is, the extreme upper position of these parts being indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. During winding of cables 31 onto drum 36, cable 38 is unwound from the drum at the same rate at which cables 31 are wound onto the drum, thus avoiding any objectionable slack in cable 38. R0- tation of the drum in the opposite direction serves to wind cable 38 onto the drum while unwinding cables 31 therefrom, thus moving periscope l8 downward. When the periscope reaches the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, cover I4 seats upon flange i! of trunk l3 so as to provide a watertight and pressure-resistant closure for the lower end of the trunk. Continued rotation of drum 36 and winding of cable 38 thereon serves to draw the periscope i8 downward, the periscope then sliding through cover I4 as well as through the top of trunk l3. In this manner, the periscope l8 may be adjusted at any desired height within control compartment 2 or within the trunk !3. In its extreme lowered or retracted position, the lower portion of the periscope is housed within trunk 21, as indicated in Figure 2A.

When the periscope is operated at medium or low elevation, the eyepiece 23 thereof is disposed within control compartment 2, and the diving station and instruments within this compartment are at all times under the direct observation of the operator or commanding officer standing upon platform 30, the commanding officer also having direct oral communication with the control compartment. With the periscope l8 in its position of maximum elevation indicated in Figure 2, the operator or commanding officer standing upon platform 3i] still has direct oral communication with the control compartment 2. With periscope 18 in its uppermost position, the elevation of the objective lens thereof is as great or even greater than can be obtained with a periscope fitted in the conning tower in accordance with present practice. The periscopes l9 and [8 are of such length that when fully withdrawn the tops thereof will not project above the clearing lines of the boat, in accordance with the usual practice.

It is desirable that the cover M be held against lateral movement in its travel within trunk I3, so as to avoid subjecting the periscope to objectionable transverse stresses. This is accomplished by providing guide rollers suitably mounted upon the upper face of cover M, as in Figure 3, these guide rollers operating in channel guide members 5! extending lengthwise of trunk l3 and suitably secured to the inner face thereof. The cables 31 pass through cover I4 at opposite sides of periscope [8 in a plane extending diametrically of the periscope which, in conjunction with the disposition of the rollers 50 and guide members 5|, assures smoothness in operation of the cover l4 and eliminates likelihood of binding thereof.

In the event of damage either to the periscope [8 or to trunk i3 such as would admit water to the latter, the cover I4 may be moved into lowered or closed position and the stuffing boxes I9, 43 and 46 may be tightened so as to eliminate possibility of leakage therethrough. In this manner, possibility of flooding of the boat due to damage to the periscope I8 or to the trunk I3 is eliminated.

Any suitable or known means may be provided for rotating the drum 36. Conveniently, this drum is driven from an electric motor 52 through a suitable gear reduction unit 53. Suitable means, of known type, is provided for controlling motor 53, for raising and lowering the periscope to the desired extent, and limit switches, of known type, may be provided for limiting the extreme travel of the periscope in either direction.

What I claim is:

1. In a submarine boat comprising a water tight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, a trunk extending through the upper portion of said hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a cover within the trunk for closing the lower end thereof, a periscope slidable through the cover and the top of the trunk, the periscope and the cover having cooperating means for causing upward movement of said cover within the trunk with said periscope, and means for raising and lowering the periscope and for moving the latter downward through the cover when the latter has been lowered into closed position.

2. In a submarine boat comprising a water tight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through andabove said top of the hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a cover within the trunk for closing the lower end thereof, a periscope slidable through the cover and the top of the trunk, the periscope and the cover having cooperating means for causing upward movement of said cover within the trunk with said periscope, a lower housing trunk within said hull disposed and adapted to receive the lower portion of the periscope when the latter is in retracted position, and means for raising and lowering the periscope and for moving the latter downward through the cover when the latter has been lowered into closed position.

3. In a submarine boat comprising a water tight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above said top of the hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a cover within the trunk for closing the lower end thereof, a periscope slidable through the cover and the top of the trunk, the periscope and the cover having cooperating means for causing upward movement of said cover within the trunk with said periscope, a lower housing trunk within said null disposed and adapted to receive the lower portion of the periscope when the latter is in retracted position, an operators platform suspended from the cover and having an opening aligned with said lower trunk and the periscope of a size to accommodate the latter, and means for raising and lowering the periscope and for moving the latter downward through the cover when the latter has been lowered into closed position.

4. In a submarine boat comprising a water tight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above the top of said hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a cover within the trunk for closing the lower end thereof, a periscope slidable through the cover and the top of the trunk, the periscope and the cover having cooperating means for causing upward movement of said cover within the trunk with said periscope, a lower housing trunk within said hull disposed and adapted to receive the lower portion of the periscope when the latter is in retracted position, an operators platform suspended from the cover and having an opening aligned with said lower trunk and the periscope of a size to accommodate the latter, said platform being of less width than the interior of the upper trunk and of a size to pass through the lower end thereof, and means for raising and lowering the periscope and for moving the latter downward through the cover when the latter has been lowered into closed position.

5. In a submarine boat comprising a watertight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above the top of said hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a cover within the trunk for closing the lower end thereof, a periscope slidable through the cover and the top of the trunk, the periscope and the cover having cooperating means for causing upward movement of said cover within the trunk with said periscope, means for guiding the cover in its movement within the trunk, a lower housing trunk within said hull opening into the control compartment and aligned with the periscope, said lower trunk accommodating the lower portion of said periscope when the latter is retracted, a platform rigid with and suspended from the cover, said platform having an opening aligned with the lower trunk and the periscope of a size to accommodate the latter, the lower trunk and the platform being provided with cooperating guide members for guiding said platform in the movement thereof with the cover, and means for raising and lowering the periscope and for moving the latter downward through the cover when the latter has been lowered into closed position.

6. In a submarine boat comprising a watertight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above the top of said hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a periscope slidable through the top of said trunk, a lower housing trunk within said hull and opening into said compartment, said lower trunk being aligned with the periscope and adapted to receive the lower portion thereof when said periscope is retracted, the periscope normally being movable downward through the lower end of said upper trunk and the latter being adapted for reception of an operator, the lower end of said upper trunk opening directly into said control compartment in free communication therewith when said periscope is at its maximum elevation, and means for raising and lowering said periscope.

7. In a submarine boat comprising a watertight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, an upper water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above the top of said hull and opening at its lower end into said compartment, a periscope slidable through the top of said trunk, a lower housin trunk within said hull and opening into said compartment, said lower trunk being aligned with the periscope and adapted to receive the lower portion thereof when said periscope is retracted, a member mounted on the periscope, said member and said periscope having cooperating means for moving said member upward with the periscope when the latter has been projected to a predetermined extent while permitting relative downward movement of the periscope when it has been retracted to a predetermined extent, a platform suspended from said member for movement therewith and having an opening aligned with the lower trunk and the periscope and of a size to accommodate the latter, said platform being of materially less Width than the interior of said upper trunk and of a size to pass into and out of the latter through the lower end thereof, and means for raising and lowering said periscope.

8. In a submarine boat comprising a watertight and pressure resistant hull, a control compartment within said hull, a water-tight and pressure-resistant trunk extending through and above the top of said hull and opening at its lower end into the top of said compartment, a periscope slidable through the top of said trunk, lower housing means within said hull opening into said compartment at the bottom thereof and adapted and disposed to receive the lower portion of the periscope when the latter is retracted, the periscope normally being movable downward through the lower end of said trunk and the latter being adapted for reception of an operator, the lower end of said trunk opening directly into said control compartment in free communication therewith when said periscope is at its maximum elevation, and means for raising and lowering said periscope.

LAWRENCE Y. SPEAR. 

